BNI in the News


Referrals Give Businesses a Major Boost

A culture of promoting and expanding businesses through personal referrals is flourishing in the UAE. This has been encouraged by Business Network International (BNI), the world's largest referral organization, which is active in 37 countries. The networking group launched its first chapter in the UAE in 2005 and now has seven—the latest opened in Abu Dhabi last month.

BNI was founded by Dr. Ivan Misner in the United States in 1985 and its members include CEOs, chairmen, managing directors and experts from different professions. Nick Pearson, Middle East Regional Director of BNI, tells Emirates Business how the organization works and how its members benefit from networking—and reveals its future plans.

Click here to read the article.



UAE Radio Broadcast on Business Networking in the Middle East

Norm Dominguez and Bijay Rajnikantt Shah, CEO and National Director (respectively) for BNI, talk about networking in the business world. BNI is a global referral company and has seven chapters in the UAE alone.

Listen to radio broadcast.



From Top Exec to Jobless: The Non-salesman

Geof Scanlon, co-executive director of the local chapter of Business Network International, contributed an article to the book Masters of Sales: Secrets from Top Sales Professionals that Will Transform You into a World Class Salesperson, by Ivan R. Misner and Don Morgan.

From Scanlon's Death of a Non-Salesman: A Cautionary Tale (Entrepreneur Press, 2007; $19.95):

"After 30 years of service as a vice president at an international Fortune 100 company, Bill R. got the ax. His corner office on the 30th floor, big staff, and great perks were all gone with the flutter of a pink slip and a corporate restructuring.

"Bill wasn't worried. He figured he had the financial expertise, the business savvy, and the contacts to go it alone. He'd do things his way, be his own boss in a financial planning business for high net worth individuals. Should have done it years ago, he thought. It would be fun—a slam dunk!

Click here to read the article.



Jim Blasingame Interview

BNI's theme for 2008 is "Changing the Way the World Does Business," and in Dr. Misner's February interview with Jim Blasingame, he explains exactly how BNI is doing just that through the celebration of International Networking Week.

In this 12 minute, online interview, Ivan mentions the emphasis that 2008's International Networking Week placed on getting community leaders from all over the world involved in International Networking Week events, and the significant work that was done to achieve increased exposure for business networking by obtaining documented recognition of the designated week from government agencies around the globe.

To listen to the interview now, please visit: http://www.smallbusinessadvocate.com/small-business-member-archives/ivan-misner_187_1.html

For more on International Networking Week, please visit: www.InternationalNetworkingWeek.com.